PUNARVIVAAH - ARRANGED TO LOVE (L&M #3) [COMPLETED]

SHOT 37

Abhay's pov!

"How did the photograph leak? The cameras were all confiscated, right?" I asked in frustration, pacing back and forth across the room. The tension in my voice was palpable, my movements agitated.

"Probably a picture taken using a phone camera," Shravan replied, running his fingers through his hair. "Because all cameras were confiscated and the reporters were paid off too. It's hard to control every single angle in a situation like that."

I stopped pacing and turned to face his friends, feeling a mix of helplessness and anger.

"Now the whole of Bangalore knows that I got married again. How am I to get out of this now?" I asked helplessly

"Maybe the question isn't how to get out of it, but rather how to deal with it moving forward." Mithran, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke up.

"What are you suggesting?" I asked, my frustration barely contained.

"Look, this whole thing is a mess, no doubt," Mithran began, choosing his words carefully. "But you can't change what's already happened. The photo is out there, and the story is spreading like wildfire. Instead of trying to undo it, maybe you should consider the possibility of making the best out of a bad situation."

"Are you seriously suggesting I just go along with this fake marriage? That I pretend this whole thing was real?" I asked in disbelief.

"Abhay, think about it. Vaiga is a nice girl, and this whole thing wasn't her fault either. You both were victims of a setup. But now that you are in this together, maybe it's worth considering if there's any way to make it work." Shravan stepped closer, his tone soothing yet firm.

"Have you both gone mad?" I asked in disbelief.

"Abhay, you saw what happened in the morning, right? And Niranjan uncle said what exactly happened in her life. It was your enemy who did this Abhay. And she doesn't have to bear the burns of your enmity." Mithran said and what happened in the morning rushed back into my memory.

***

A few hours ago!

"I didn't do anything, Shiva..." Vaiga's weak voice echoed in the room before she blacked out.

"Vaiga..." Maa cried out, rushing to her side.

"Vaiga..." I called out in horror, immediately picking her up and laying her on the bed. Panic surged through me as I tried to wake her up.

"Vaiga, wake up. Please, wake up," I called out, shaking her gently. She remained unresponsive, her breathing shallow and her face pale.

"Shravan, get some water," I commanded, my voice tight with urgency.

Within seconds, Shravan returned with a glass of water, and I began to sprinkle droplets onto Vaiga's face, hoping to rouse her from her unconscious state.

"Come on, Vaiga, wake up," I whispered desperately.

Her eyelids fluttered briefly but then stilled, her body remaining limp. The emotional trauma she had just experienced, combined with the lingering effects of whatever had been injected into her the previous night, was proving too much for her to handle.

"We need a doctor," Mithran said, his tone firm and decisive. Without wasting any more time, he called for medical help.

Minutes felt like hours as we waited for the doctor to arrive. Maa stayed by Vaiga's side, holding her hand and willing her to wake up.

The guilt of her being caught in this mess because of me weighed heavily on my heart.

When the doctor finally arrived, he quickly assessed her condition.

"She has been through a severe emotional shock, and the medication in her system is making it worse," he explained after checking her pulse and vitals.

"The best thing for her right now is rest. Let her sleep it off. Once she wakes up, she should be alright. But keep an eye on her, and if she shows any signs of distress or if her condition worsens, call me immediately." The doctor instructed.

"Thank you, doctor," I said, my voice laden with gratitude and worry. We all watched as the doctor left, leaving us to care for Vaiga.

As the door closed behind him, Maa's gentle voice broke the heavy silence.

"What happened today must have reminded her of what happened with Shiva. It must have been intolerable for her. Poor girl," she said, caressing Vaiga's head slowly.

I sat down next to Vaiga, my thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and concern.

"She doesn't deserve this. None of this is her fault," I murmured, feeling a deep sense of responsibility for the situation she was in.

"She has been through so much already. She was slowly coming out of it. I am worried how she will react to it all when she wakes up." Maa said anxiously.

"What exactly happened in her life?" I asked, wanting to know the whole story.

What Maa said left me shocked. How could that woman do such cruelty towards a woman who carries her son's child? And that spineless man! He just believed his mother's words and left Vaiga. How could he? Does he even know she was pregnant?

The thought that she lost a child made me ache for a moment. Kriti's face flashed in front of my eyes.

I looked at Vaiga and a deep sense of sympathy washed over me. A mere twenty two year old girl went through a painful divorce and an even more painful miscarriage. How did she bear it all? And I hadn't made it any easier for her with my behaviour towards her.

****

"Abhay..." It was Papa's voice that brought me out of my thoughts.

"Uh.."

When did he come?

"Abhay, did you think about what Mithran and Shravan said?" Papa asked and I understood they had all been in on the plan.

"Papa please. How can you all expect me to.." I trailed off helplessly.

Papa sat next to me and held my hands in his.

"We have always supported you in all your decisions, Abhay. Even when you walked into this house with a total stranger, claiming to be your wife, we have open heartedly welcomed you both. We are not forcing you for anything. Consider this a request. Vaiga.. Her ex mother in law Durga Devi. She is an evil woman. If it comes out that your marriage is fake, she might even try to slander Vaiga's character more. She still has those framed photographs with her. Vaiga will never recover from this if anything like that happens.." Niranjan said softly.

"Papa.."

"I am not asking you to sacrifice your life for Vaiga, Abhay. I am only asking you to think about it. You both have been through similar pains. You both have faced the problems of a failed marriage. Maybe only you both would be able to understand each other. And Kriti. She needs a mother. And nobody could love your daughter more than Vaiga does. Think about it all and make a decision. Whatever you decide, we will stand by you. There will be no hard feelings." Papa said and I took a deep breath.

"I need to talk to Vaiga.."

A/N

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